CD Details

Released: March 14, 2006

Originally Released: 2005

Label: Collectables Records

Original Album #1: Coed 901 (1960)

Original Album #2: Coed 904 (1960)

Description by OLDIES.com:

Two fabulous compilations from legendary doo-wop group, The Crests, on one fantastic CD. Both albums were released by Coed in 1960, and feature 32 hits such as "Earth Angel," "16 Candles" and "Step By Step."

Tracks:

1.Earth Angel

2.Good Golly Miss Molly

3.My Special Angel

4.Six Nights A Week

5.Butterfly

6.16 Candles

7.The Angels Listened In

8.A Rose And A Baby Ruth

9.I Remember (In The Still Of The Night)

10.Party Doll

11.Silhouettes

12.Tweedlee Dee

13.A Year Ago Tonight

14.Gee But I'd Give The World

15.Step By Step

16.I Thank The Moon

17.Pretty Little Angel

18.Journey Of Love

19.Trouble In Paradise

20.Flower Of Love

21.Always You

22.If My Heart Could Write A Letter

23.Molly Mae

24.Isn't It Amazing

Product Description:

The Crests, a integrated group (two African-Americans, a Puerto Rican, and an Italian) from New York's Lower East Side who seemed to specialize in songs about angels and birthday candles throughout their career, were all over the charts in 1959 thanks to the huge success of "16 Candles," and the group's record label, Coed Records, moved quickly to cash in, releasing The Crests Sing All Biggies on LP early in 1960, featuring their big hit plus its follow-up, "The Angels Listened In," and covers of other hits of the day. Later that year a second LP, The Best of the Crests, was released, featuring their singles for the label. Taken together as they appear on this single-disc release from Collectables, the two LPs essentially capture the Crests at their commercial peak, since lead singer Johnny Maestro (John Mastangelo) left for a solo career that same year, and although he was replaced by James Ancrum, neither Maestro nor the Crests ever flew quite so close to the sun again. This two-fer has some classic doo wop material, including "16 Candles," "Six Nights a Week," "Pretty Little Angel," "Trouble in Paradise" (which was actually another song about angels), and "A Year Ago Tonight" (another birthday song, which could have very easily been called "17 Candles") but at 36 tracks might be more than most listeners really need. Rhino's Best of the Crests Featuring Johnny Maestro distills things down to 18 tracks and sticks to the actual single releases, and the result is a much more succinct portrait of this classic vocal group. ~ Steve Leggett